Even those impacted by crime support reforming the criminal justice system
If you were to consider what groups would most likely be in support of criminal justice reform, and what groups would most likely be opposed, two categories would likely be easy. Victims of crime would probably oppose reforms to the criminal justice system, while people facing criminal charges would likely be in favor of those same charges. Yet a new study reveals that people who have been affected by crime largely support the type of reforms that may actually help to make California safer.
According to a new report by Californians for Safety and Justice, a group of nearly 1,000 crime victims were surveyed about their attitudes related to the services they received and if the system should be reformed. The survey found that 1 in 3 Californians had been a victim of a crime in the past decade. Of those, just 20% felt as though they had received adequate support to help them recover from the trauma that they experienced.
What may surprise many people is that a majority of the victims surveys actually believe that the current prison system will do little to reduce recidivism. Most support reducing sentences for people convicted of crimes who are determined to be “low risk” to public safety. Instead of spending more money keeping people incarcerated, the people surveyed thought it made more sense to focus the state’s budget on funding crime prevention, rehabilitation and mental health treatment programs.
As a criminal lawyer Orange County, CA can explain, this goes against what most people assume about victims of crime. Most people believe that if a person has been victimized, they will want the legal system to “throw the book” at the perpetrator. Yet this report found that victims of crime wanted people who have been convicted of crimes to receive treatment and to be rehabilitated.
This type of study demonstrates that many Californians believe that the current wave of criminal justice reforms is a positive development. Focusing on how we can get help for people who have been accused of crimes, rather than solely on punishing them, can help to change the direction of our state’s rising crime rates.
If you have been charged with a crime, a skilled criminal lawyer Orange County, CA can help to defend you by putting together strong factual and legal defenses to the charges. He or she can also argue that — if you are convicted — you deserve a chance at treatment or rehabilitation, rather than simply being punished.
The Chambers Law Firm has substantial experience representing Californians charged with a range of offenses. We aggressively defend our clients, and work towards the most favorable outcome based on the facts of the case. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced criminal lawyer Orange County, CA, contact our firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com.
